Chemistry of Atmospheric Wet Deposition in Southern Iraq During Winter 2001 – 2002.

Abstract

For the period of Dec. 2001– Jan. 2002, wet samples of rain water were collected fromdifferent sites covered the industrial sites of petrochemical company in southern Iraq. Thesamples were analysed for pH, conductivity, chloride, sulphate, calcium, magnesium,bicarbonate and phosphate concentrations. Lower pH recorded were 6.5 in the petrochemicalcompany while maximum value recorded was 7.6 in the atmosphere of paper and millcompany. For chloride lower value recorded was 35.45 mg/l in Shuaiba site and maximumvalue was 106.4 mg/l in Umm Qaseer. These values were accompanied with electricconductivity of 0.02 mS/cm in Shuaiba and maximum value of 0.72 mS/cm in Umm Qaseer .Calcium and magnesium ranged between 0.1-2 mg/l and 0.0 – 1.16 mg/l respectively.Sulphate ranged from 16.4 mg/l in petrochemical company to 11.93 mg/l in Basrah city.Bicarbonate was high and ranged between 61.0 mg/l in Shuaiba and 109.8 mg/l in Zubairtown. For phosphate values were low and ranged from 0.50 μg at.P-PO4P3-P/lP Pin BasrahP Pcity to1.26 μg at.P-PO4P3-P/lP Pin Petrochemical company. Wet precipitation in southern Iraq showedmoderate values of pH with slight acidity due to industrial emissions of N and S, and slightbasic due to the dust from the land of basic characteristics.